Chapter 23 : 23rd Stance

A few hours later, it was now morning and in the Demon Slayer Head-Quarters, Tanjiro was surrounded by the Hashira's.

He was currently on trial as having a Demon in tow whilst being a Demon slayer is a crime....however he wasn't the only one getting in trouble as after his fight with Takeo, Giyu prevented Nezuko from getting killed.

However, at the time Giyu wasn't there as he was getting his wounds treated, this didn't go un-noticed as they all wanted to know who hurt him to such an extent, because it couldn't have possibly been Rui, but they were dealing with more pressing matters, and decided to refocus on Tanjiro.

"Tanjiro Kamado, why are you travelling with a demon, even though you're a demon slayer?", Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira asked.

"S-She's my young-", he stated, before he coughed mid-way due to his injuries.

After drinking some water, he finally told them everything, but they didn't buy his story....most of them were in agreement that Tanjiro needed to be punished.

It was then that the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa appeared. Provoking Tanjiro, he held up the box that Nezuko was staying inside...

"Is that the idiotic Corps Member that brought a demon with him?", he proclaimed.

After goading Tanjiro further, he unsheathed his blade and stabbed Nezuko through the box...

"Anyone who hurts my sister Hashira or not, I won't let you get away with it!!", Tanjiro shouted, completely consumed with anger before he charged at Sanemi.

With no Giyu there to distract Sanemi, he easily dodged Tanjiro attack before he kicked him away...

"Is that all you got~", he stated mockingly as he walked towards Tanjiro. In response to Tanjiro, even though he was injured, quickly got up and was ready to fight him, but Nichika Ubuyashikii and Hinaki Ubuyashiki announced.....

"The master has arrived"

TAP! TAP! TAP!

Emerging from the darkness, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the current master of the Demon Slayers Corps.

"Good morning everyone. The weather is strikingly nice today. Perhaps with the chance with a blue sky? It pleases me that we've made it to our semi-annual Hashira Meeting with no personnel changes."

With his pale light skin, Tanjiro easily mistook him to be ill, 'So is he the master of the mansion?', he thought, a bit un-sure of what was going on, but then suddenly....

BANG!

Smashing his head to the ground, Sanemi along with the other Demon Slayers kneeled to Kagaya.

As soon as Tanjiro saw the others bow, he immediately knew that he certainly was the Master of the Mansion.

"It appears we are missing someone", Kagaya stated. noticing Giyu wasn't here even though he couldn't see.

Before anyone could say anything, they all turned to their left as they heard footsteps emerging.

TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!

Approaching them was a Demon Slayer wearing a white uniform, wearing a black mask that covered his chin to his nose, he had purple eyes, white hair and his palm resting on his blade as he walked towards them all leisurely.

TAP!

Taking one final step, Takeo finally stopped and stared at them all.

Noticing who he was, Tanjiro laid on the floor beneath Sanemi completely surprised, 'What is he doing here?', he thought before he continued watching.

"May I ask...who are you?", Kagaya asked Takeo.

The other Hashira stared at him : most with interest, but instantly changed their expressions when he retorted...

"My master taught me it's impolite to request someone's name, when you haven't given your own....", as soon as he said this.....

VOOOOSHHH!!!!!

Sanemi hopped off of Tanjiro and dashed towards Takeo, unsheathing his sword....before he placed it right by his neck....

"DO YOU KNOW WHO YOUR TALKING TO?! HUH!", He shouted at Takeo. The other Hashira's were stupified, but mostly angry about what Takeo had just stated...as he had 'disrespected' their 'Oyakata-sama', but they bottled it in as Sanemi had already beat it to them.

Turning his neck, Takeo looked directly into Sanemi's eyes, only displaying calmness, before he looked at the agitated faces of the other Hashira's , "And here I thought the Hashira were more disciplined than this", he stated, before he quickly overpowered Sanemi by pushing him to floor before he could even react he was looking up at Takeo.

THUD! CLANG!

When Sanemi and his sword hit the floor, the other Hashira's were shocked, but with their mentality, they all got up and went towards Takeo to help Sanemi....

"STAY BACK!!" "HE'S MINE!!", Sanemi shouted at the others, making them stop in their places...before he charged at Takeo....

"Stop~", Kagaya said gently in a soothing voice.....however Sanemi couldn't hear him...

"You're angry at me for disrespecting your master when you ignore his commands~ what a joke", Takeo said leisurely, not bothered with his attack.

His statement made Sanemi immediately stop and turn around, before he quickly kneeled, "I'm sorry master! Please forgive my foolishness! I was taken over by anger when this idiot disrespected! Once again forgive me.", he stated before he waited for his Master's reply.

"No, No, It's quite alright, I'm the one who was being disrespectful. My name is Kagaya Ubuyashiki, may I know your name? and why you're here?", he asked with a genuine smile.

"My name's Takeo Yasushi, the reason why I'm here is too actually ask you some questions....alone".

As soon as he said 'alone', the Hashira's were ready to immediately disagree.

"Sure", Kagaya immediately answered, "After our Meeting we'll talk".

"Thank you", Takeo stated before he looked around, "Is Giyu still healing?", he then asked.

'How does he know....unless', the other Hashira's thought. According to reports Giyu was injured but it was never announced what had inflicted those wounds to him, "So Giyu was injured...", Kagaya deduced.

"Hopefully he heals well", Kagaya stated.

An awkward silence followed for a few seconds, but the whole time Sanemi was staring at Takeo with a deathly expression....

--------------------------------

After a few minutes, they continued their discussion about Tanjiro and his sister. Kagaya requested that they allow him to travel with his sister, and after some persuasion, they finally relented.

As soon as that was done, they quickly began their official meeting, they discussed possible dangers, but mostly Muzan. The meeting spanned all the way into the night, until finally the Hashira left his mansion.

Waiting outside the whole time, Takeo entered under the watchful eye of the Hashira....right before he went inside, he bumped into Sanemi. His gaze looked like it could cut tofu, instead of letting it continue, Takeo stated....

"If you have a problem with me, let's settle it right after I'm done here..."

It took a few seconds, but Sanemi quickly agreed, "You'll regret that...", he said, before he walked off into the distance.

After that altercation, Takeo went inside the Master's mansion and sat down in-front of him.

"Well, I'm sorry you had to wait for so long...but please ask away", Kagaya stated respectfully.

"...Thank you....I just wanted to ask.....

(After some deliberation, Takeo wanted to come to this meeting not to mainly fight.....he had already realised that the previous Hashira weren't completely at fault...instead he wanted to ask)

Do you know anything about a Demon named Zamuza?".